Open house set about new trailhead at Rock Island Swing Bridge

Dakota County has been awarded a National Scenic Byway grant to build a wayside rest along the Mississippi River Regional Trail near the Rock Island Swing Bridge in Inver Grove Heights.

The county invites the public to share comments about the project at an open house from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, at the Veterans Memorial Community Center, National Guard Meeting Room C, 8055 Barbara Ave., Inver Grove Heights. Dakota County staff will introduce the project, present design concepts and answer questions.

The project includes construction of a wayside rest with a four-season rest room, an outdoor picnic pavilion, a 40-vehicle parking lot, signage, and interpretive facilities highlighting the history of the area. The project is currently in the preliminary engineering phase with construction set to begin this summer.